Council building a 4 storey tower block in a small space 10 feet away from my mid terraced property

[UnshakenNeedsStirring]

Hi All, I need some advice please. I received a letter from our council in a leafy green part of SE London. They are building a 4 storey tower block right in the middle of our cul-de-sac where about 45 families live in mid terrace properties. The land is just 10 feet outside my bedroom window and currently has a community centre. It will need demolishing and following that years of pain and misery to have a tower block blocking our light and no space for kids to paly or kick a ball. The area is heavily built up anyway. There has been no regards to our lives and our health in this matter and the council seem to be bent on carrying this out. How do I stop it? Please help as I haven't slept in days and its affecting my mental health. Any advice will be appreciated.

Doing it now! Thanks

This is very good advice. Things like not inkeeping with the area, and lack of parking.

I agree that they will most likely build on the land, but hopefully will build something smaller.

Also check how far up you can take your objections. We were in a similar situation a few years ago, and iirc a neighbour took it to The Secretary of State for Housing (oversees local government and planning). As above, the land was still built on, but townhouses. The original plans were for a four storey block of flats, all with balconies overlooking the gardens of our ordinary two story houses. Said block of flats being only about 20 ft from our garden fences. Also no communal gardens for the flats, just the balconies.

OP, you can appeal it but as a slight side point, be careful you don’t get obsessed with this. I have seen so many people become absolutely enraged/obsessed/anxious about potential building near their home. It has a huge toll
on their mental health. And it isn’t worth the worry. Just get on with your life, know that people have to live somewhere, and who knows maybe your best friend for life will move in.

OP you need to be clear about what the letter you have received is. If it is notification of the planning application which invites your comments, you have the opportunity to object. If it is something else and permission has already been granted, or the consultation period has passed, you may be too late to make any meaningful objection.

Local planning authority's must decide planning applications in accordance with their local plan (meaning the group of planning policies) unless material considerations mean otherwise. As it is a council application, they will be sure that it is in favour with the local plan on the whole. To object, you have to make a case that the material considerations outweigh this.

They can only take planning considerations into account when making the decision. Your reluctance to put up with construction noise is not a material consideration. Things like overlooking, loss of privacy etc are. I would look at the planning policy around proximity - building 10ft from your home is likely under any proximity standards.

If you get enough objectors, the matter will probably be decided by a committee of councillors - this is your best bet at getting it denied. You can attend and speak to the councillors directly.

A useful list of what is/isn't material considerations is here: www.rochford.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Material%20Planning%20Considerations.pdf

Good luck

To anyone interested, I have a photos attached now!

Thanks @NalaNana Will check it out

@PersonaNonGarter yes, I absolutely love my neighbours and the more the merrier. But tearing down the community Center and building a 5 storey building will be detrimental to my mental well being. I already havent slept well :(

Oh wow, that will stick out like a sore thumb!

Definitely mention the 100 year old trees and any wildlife that inhabits them. Could you check with the council if any have tree protection orders?

What kind of services/social opportunities does the community centre provide? Are any for vulnerable groups, eg. the elderly, disadvantaged families with young children, refugees, people with disabilities… Would any of these groups find it difficult to access services elsewhere?

Unfortunately, developers don’t always have to provide sufficient parking spaces for urban flats, especially if the area has good public transport links or is within walking distance of local amenities.

@SilverGlassHare I have just put a shoddy diagram over. The flats are all mid terraced, around 40. Its a oval cu de sac, 2 trees and one is 100 years old. The community center is one storey. It is about 100 sq meters. There si a small play area about the same size behind. Small green, maybe another 100 sq meters

Also, if that is a 100 year old tree you should mention that and look into tree preservation orders - it might be that the tree is eligible for protection in which case the loss of the tree would be a material consideration

@NalaNana IT does not have a TPO unfortunately

@UnshakenNeedsStirring unfortunately there isn't usually a process of "nominating" trees but you could definitely make a case for the tree being TPO'd to the relevant council department as it is currently at risk. It would be up to them to do it, but there's no harm in bringing it to their attention. Usually teams who do that kind of work fall outside of the planners themselves, so they might not be aware of it.

@NalaNana thank you, I was not aware of it. I can certainly try

I live in a 10 storey block of flats and about 15ft from my front room window is a 21 storey block! Council are wankers.
only fun I get is looking at the people whose flats face mine and thinking you never get the sun - I am that petty

Omg I'd be doing everything to get that blocked.

I'd write a very simple clear letter of how people can complain/object if they want to (email addresses for local mp, councillors etc) and post it to every house on your road. Id also be speaking to your local newspaper if you have one and see if they can run a story, and posting about it on every local Facebook group etc. But you need people to write official objection letters in to the right places.

Take a look at what you can and can't use as a valid objection
www.planningportal.co.uk/services/help/faq/planning/about-the-planning-system/what-are-material-considerations

Then go onto your Council's website and find the planning policy page. Have a read of the local plan and use the policies in there to form your objection letter.

They may also have a Design Guide which may provide you with details about har far building should be sited and overlooking etc.

There are standards and they should not fall below these.

Talk to your local councillors and get your community on side.

Try and have a meeting with the community and developers.

It may just be that you can help design a suitable building that everyone is happy with.

I would suggesting getting all your neighbours together and encouraging everyone to send objections to the planning proposal. You can talk about the loss of light, the noise, loss of green/play space and community facility and so on. Start a proper campaign an get your local paper involved as well.
I would also check what sort of tenants the council will be moving in if this is a really small unit/flats. You don't want to end up with troubled single people who might have drugs and alcohol issues on your doorstep.

Thanks @Pogonogo I will have a look. Appreciate the advice

@alrightfella depressing isnt it? I have lost all sleep due tot his damn letter
I will be doing everything I can to block this

@PersonaNonGarter yes, I absolutely love my neighbours and the more the merrier. But tearing down the community Center and building a 5 storey building will be detrimental to my mental well being. I already havent slept well :(

So don’t let it have a detrimental effect. Bluntly, and sorry about this, a block of flats is likely to be built in some form. Housing is needed and you are unlikely to stop it.

With that in mind, try to take responsibility for yourself and your mental health. It is likely that acceptance, gratitude and positivity will play a part in that.

I know it is hard. But for your own sake, you are going to need to get mentally comfortable with this - otherwise it will cost you a lot more than light. Take personal responsibility for understanding that and putting the necessary personal support and kindness to yourself in place.

Please don't put in your letter of complaint that it's a 4 storey tower. The appropriate term is 4 story block of flats. If the counci

Not sure what my phone did there! If the council already have the community centre on that plot they may well be within there rights as anyone else doing so, to demolish it and put another building in its place.

There are quite strick rules regarding loss of Daylight to your property from the new building. The Local Planning Authority should ask for a Daylight analysis report that will take in the effect of the Neighbouring properties. I am happy if you wanted to PM me as this is what we specialise in.

Very good drawing op thanks. Five stories and 40 flats? They are having a laugh.